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Antifungal effect of soil Bacillus bacteria on pathogenic species of the fungal genera Aspergillus and Trichophyton

Summary

Researchers found that certain bacteria called Bacillus, naturally occurring in soil, can effectively kill dangerous fungi that cause infections in humans. These bacteria produce compounds that are as effective or more effective than standard antifungal medications. This discovery could lead to new treatments for fungal infections, especially as fungi increasingly develop resistance to current drugs.

Background

Fungal infections have increased rapidly, affecting 20-25% of the global population with 1.6 million annual fatalities. The widespread use of antifungal medications has led to emerging resistance. Soil microorganisms, particularly Bacillus species, are known sources of natural antimicrobial compounds with potential therapeutic applications.

Objective

This study aimed to isolate Bacillus species with inhibitory effects on pathogenic fungi (Aspergillus and Trichophyton species) from soil samples and investigate the antifungal activity of Bacillus metabolites compared to standard antifungal drugs amphotericin B and ketoconazole.

Results

From 50 soil samples, 15 showed antifungal effects yielding 55 bacterial strains, with 4 isolates strongly inhibiting all tested fungi. These were identified as Bacillus subtilis, B. licheniformis, B. axarquiensis, and Bacillus sp. B. subtilis showed significantly higher inhibition percentages against all four fungal species compared to ketoconazole and amphotericin B in disk diffusion assays.

Conclusion

Soil-derived Bacillus species demonstrate strong antifungal potential against pathogenic Aspergillus and Trichophyton species. Further investigation is recommended to identify specific metabolites responsible for antifungal activity, evaluate their biocontrol potential, and explore their mechanisms of action.
  • Published in:Iran Journal of Microbiology,
  • Study Type:Experimental Laboratory Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40337676, DOI: 10.18502/ijm.v17i2.18397
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